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Rich Affection
Posted on Aug 08, 2016 Topic : Weekly Devotionals
Though your riches increase,
do not set your heart on them.
PSALM 62:10
Money is a lover who romances us regularly. It seduces our emotions. It promises security though its outcome is uncertain. It promises satisfaction, but it’s never content. It promises hope, but real hope is found in seeking first God’s kingdom. It promises worldly wealth, but true riches belong to a growing relationship with Jesus. It promises a non-compete with Christ, but it’s actually the number one competitor to our communion with Christ. It’s a selfish lover.
Beware of the raw deal riches offer. Don’t become seduced by the sirens of power and pride. We were saved by grace to get us to heaven, and we depend on grace to daily get us to God. We may have unique issues and opportunities due to having extra stuff. But an affection for riches can lead us to overindulge ourselves. Our loyalty can subtly shift from loving the Lord to loving stuff. So make sure extra things lead you into a deeper love relationship with the Giver—not the gifts. Jesus is very jealous.
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“Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:10).
Wealth without a plan is irresponsible. A prayerful plan relegates money to a place of submission to God’s ways. Begin engaging in a Bible study about money, and learn your role as a steward of God’s stuff. Consider hiring a financial planner who can hold you accountable to stay fiscally pure to a kingdom paradigm of planning. Predetermine to be a predictable percentage giver. The Bible teaches the principle of steady plodding (Proverbs 21:5). Spontaneous giving is limited—mature giving has a guaranteed eternal return on investment.
Lead others to love the Lord instead of wealth. Be a role model to your children and peers. Trust God, not your wealth. Riches have never been true to those who trusted in them. They are themselves transient things and deserve our transient thoughts. Cleave to Christ, not to alluring riches that entangle and complicate your life. Jesus is the lover of your soul; place all your affection on Him and not on anything that will let you down. Don’t fall in love with that which perishes, but with the One who keeps you from perishing. God is our rich affection!
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“Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:1-2).
How can I grow my affection for Christ over cash? Why does my generosity dull my greed?
Related Readings
Proverbs 23:5; Ecclesiastes 5:10; Matthew 6:24,33; Luke 16:11
Read more in Two Minutes in the Bible Through Psalms by Boyd Bailey